Wednesday Morning Food For Thought: Hirok Skip A Cause For Concern?

The big story to come out of last night’s rain-related postponement was Michael Pineda‘s return staying on schedule. Rather than push everybody back in the rotation a day, the Yankees elected to keep Pineda slated for tonight’s start and moved Shane Greene back a few days to Saturday. That sets up Brandon McCarthy, Greene, and Chris Capuano for the weekend series against Tampa Bay.

The smaller, but not insignificant, part of that story is Greene taking Hiroki Kuroda‘s spot in the rotation while Kuroda gets bumped back to Tuesday against the Astros. Cash was quick to let it be known that the decision is not due to injury, but did tell Mark Feinsand that the team feels “he would benefit from the rest.”

Well what does that mean? Is Hirok tired? Did he say something to somebody after his last start? Is there some kind of smaller injury that the team doesn’t want to disclose? Those 2 declarations made back-to-back makes the situation seem sketchier than it needs to be. As I discussed on Monday, the level of concern is growing about Hirok’s late-season regression setting in. While there isn’t enough support to state without a doubt that it is happening, the Yankee decision makers certainly seem to share that concern.

If he’s not hurt, fine. That’s great news. But if the feeling is that he would “benefit from the rest”, it would be reassuring to know why.

Born in Dover, Delaware and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, Brad now resides in Wisconsin, where he regularly goes out of his way to remind Brewers fans that their team will never be as good as the Yankees. When he’s not writing for IIATMS, he likes to spend his time incorporating “Seinfeld” quotes into everyday conversation, critiquing WWE storylines, and drinking enough beer to be good at darts.